Research and Evidence Specialist - International Consultant - Home Based

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Under its Strategic Plan 2022–2025, the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) is advancing efforts to strengthen data and evidence systems to inform programming, coordination, and advocacy across the region. Improved data access and visualization will enhance programmatic planning and delivery, support coordination with partners, and promote informed decision-making in humanitarian and development contexts.

In 2025, UN Women is collaborating with the World Food Programme (WFP) and OCHA Syria to conduct gender-focused secondary analyses of two major datasets:

1. The Food Security Assessment (FSA) 2025 for Syria
2. The Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) 2025 for Syria

UN Women is responsible for interpreting the analytical outputs (to be produced by the data team) and writing two high-quality narrative analytical reports that:

• Highlight gender-differentiated vulnerabilities
• Analyze intersectional patterns (e.g., gender × displacement × disability)
• Present evidence on women’s and girls’ access, coping strategies, food security, livelihoods, and unmet needs
• Provide actionable recommendations for humanitarian actors in Syria

UN Women now seeks an experienced international gender researcher to synthesize the analytical findings into two professional, publication-ready reports.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Regional Monitoring Specialist and in close coordination with WFP/OCHA Syria technical teams, the Consultant will perform the following:

Inception and Data Review

• Review the FSA and MSNA analytical plans, questionnaires, and methodological notes;
• Review all prepared analytical outputs (tables, graphs, regressions, PiN estimates);
• Review Syria HNO/HRP documentation, sectoral guidance, and any relevant secondary literature;
• Provide an inception note outlining the structure of both reports.

Draft Gender Analysis Report for the FSA

• Interpret quantitative findings shared by UN Women;
• Identify key gender and vulnerability patterns (e.g., food insecurity trends among FHH, PLW, women with disabilities, adolescent girls);
• Contextualize results within the Syria humanitarian context;
• Establish a comprehensive analytical report covering:
  • Executive Summary
  • Methodology and limitations
  • Key findings with thematic sections
  • Sectoral implications (Food Security & Livelihoods)
  • Evidence-driven recommendations
• Integrate maps, charts, and tables into the narrative (provided by the data team).

Draft Gender Analysis Report for the MSNA

• Repeat the above process for the MSNA analytical outputs;
• Structure the report according to MSNA sectors (WASH, Shelter, Health, Protection, Education, etc.);
• Highlight gendered needs and intersectional vulnerabilities across all MSNA domains;
• Provide actionable recommendations per sector and for cross-cutting gender mainstreaming.

Validation, Presentation, and Finalization

• Incorporate feedback from UN Women, WFP, and assessment partners;
• Provide a presentation (PowerPoint) summarizing the key findings of both reports;
• Submit fully edited, publication-ready final reports.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy without travel.

Deliverables and Timeline:

Competencies:

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent analytical writing skills, able to translate complex data into clear narratives;
• Strong background in gender equality, women’s empowerment, and GBV risk mitigation;
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams (data analysts, sector specialists);
• Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines, within a multi-disciplinary team;
• Ability to write clear and concise technical documents;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Political or Social Science, Economics, international relations, International Development Studies, Gender/Women's Studies and/ or a related field is required;
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience conducting gender analysis, humanitarian assessments, or crisis research. and/ or any related field is required;
• Proven experience writing analytical or assessment reports for UN agencies, INGOs, or humanitarian clusters is required;
• Strong knowledge of the Arab States region, preferably Syria or similar protracted crises is required;
• Demonstrated ability to interpret quantitative data, including food security indicators (FCS, rCSI, HHS), protection indicators, and MSNA variables is required;
• Familiarity with IASC frameworks, HNO/HRP processes, and humanitarian coordination mechanisms is desirable;
• Experience working within the United Nations System is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required;
• Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.